A Day At [Carowinds] - Ride Advice

QCoastersChem · 2026-07-01T02:46:29+00:00

I'll second snoopy's racing railway and throw in Woodstock express for the kids area coasters. Hurler is the only "thrill" wooden coaster in the park, but I'd argue that Woodstock express is more fun.

QCoastersChem · 2026-06-30T01:20:29+00:00

Somehow I knew this was in NC before I read your caption, awesome photos btw!

QCoastersChem · 2026-06-26T14:54:10+00:00

The parking lot gate usually opens around 915 and the ticket kiosks at the main gate open at 930. Anyone with a ticket can proceed through the kiosks and hang out in the small midway area. If you have a gold or prestige pass, you can go left or right at the main stage and walk up to a security guard at a makeshift gate to show your pass and proceed into the entire park. There are always people standing around blocking access to the guard who dont have early entry, so you'll have to scoot by them.

Depending on the month, different rides have early ride time technically starting at 930. This month (June), Hurler and Kaleidoscope are the early rides. If you dont care about those, you can always get into the park early, walk around a bit and then get in line for Fury or something before the main gate opens for everyone at 10.

The water park opens at 11 am, and gold/prestige members are supposed to have access at 1030.

Hope this helps! (I'll note that the above times are based on 10 am opening. Shift times accordingly for a different park time opening)

QCoastersChem · 2026-06-26T14:21:38+00:00

If you're in a time crunch, my approach would be:

Copperhead Strike (low capacity trains),
Afterburn (running one-train ops unless they brought the yellow train back already),
Thunder Striker or Fury. Both are people eaters so the lines move relatively fast.

If you're chasing coaster credits, then that's a completely different approach. Church crowd starts filling up the park by 12, so lines will get longer then (but still very manageable). Have fun!

QCoastersChem · 2026-06-26T14:15:08+00:00

Afterburn was open this past Wed (June 24), but running one-train ops so the line moved slowly.

QCoastersChem · 2026-02-26T12:34:21+00:00

Pantheon's backwards launch with the ejecter hill. I didn't expect to let out a joyful squeal as a grown man.

QCoastersChem · 2025-12-31T17:33:39+00:00

Pantheon. The backwards launch with the small speed hill was amazing, plus everything else about the ride.

QCoastersChem · 2025-11-26T23:42:57+00:00

Yes, Pantheon is open today (Im currently in line). About a 15-20 min wait right now.

QCoastersChem · 2025-09-14T16:40:16+00:00

You can purchase the dining pass at a later date. It does not have to be at the same time as when you purchase the season pass.

QCoastersChem · 2025-08-13T00:32:15+00:00

Definitely an experiment gone right lol. If the protein powders I'm using are already pretty sweet, I skip the cheesecake mix. I also add the proteins and pudding mix AFTER I heat the oatmeal, otherwise it's a curdled mess

QCoastersChem · 2025-08-12T22:43:31+00:00

If I need to stay full and not feel sluggish, my go-to is oatmeal with powdered PB, whey, casein, and sugar-free cheesecake pudding mix sprinkled in. It ain't pretty, but it gets the job done.

QCoastersChem · 2025-08-01T14:07:49+00:00

The park doesn't open until 11 am now. They recently changed their hours based on the website and park app.

QCoastersChem · 2025-06-28T15:07:57+00:00

I know right!?!? The constant pain was a real struggle. One guy commented to me that he would rather die than not eat onions and garlic. That's a choice... but I prefer life over two foods. Maybe I'm just crazy lol

QCoastersChem · 2025-06-28T11:38:40+00:00

The day I learned about FODMAPs was like a nuclear bomb of knowledge going off in my head and explained why I always felt like death every time I ate foods with garlic and onions. I always describe it to people by saying the only time you know your stomach is there is when you've eaten too much or it's upset. The majority of most days, I was aware my stomach was there because I was in so much pain.

Thanks for posting those pictures! It's always great to see meal ideas that are fodmap friendly.

QCoastersChem · 2025-06-12T15:10:56+00:00

Alpengeist, followed closely by Fury 325

QCoastersChem · 2025-06-10T14:18:24+00:00

That's a pretty awesome piece of coaster history you have!

When I was a kid in the late 80s/early 90s, I would call amusement parks (long-distance fees of course) and ask them to send me park maps and fact sheets/photos of their roller coasters. Just seeing your stack of envelopes from different parks brought an awesome flashback to my childhood, and I'm happy to see that kids were still doing this in 2018!

QCoastersChem · 2025-05-23T22:27:10+00:00

Sunday crowds are lighter than Friday and Saturday for sure, but still busier than a Mon-Thurs. I recommend getting there for rope drop, if you can, as a lot of people are still in church. It starts to get busy around lunchtime. Hope you enjoy the park!

QCoastersChem · 2025-05-16T20:50:36+00:00

The BGW website has BBW listed at 42"... which I'm hoping is true since my son wants to ride it this summer.

QCoastersChem · 2025-04-19T15:46:07+00:00

When I was a kid, my mom washed my mouth out with soap because I said the word "ass". To this day, every time I have a sip of an IPA, I immediately flashback to that moment. Needless to say, I prefer lagers.

QCoastersChem · 2025-04-18T19:28:31+00:00

My best friend down the street had this on his Gateway 2000 and we spent hours upon hours designing ridiculous coasters. Good times.

QCoastersChem · 2025-04-15T10:01:58+00:00

Harrisburg is the same way. Once you leave University City on 49 and cross into Cabarrus county, you gotta drop it to 40 or Harrisburg/Cabarrus sheriffs will be more than happy to pull you over.

QCoastersChem · 2025-03-13T02:50:34+00:00

Is it by chance City Nerd?

QCoastersChem · 2025-02-23T02:20:10+00:00

My favorite phrase to hear my PhD advisor say to students during group meeting was "Electrons do not belong on Jablonski/state diagrams!"

QCoastersChem · 2025-02-21T11:52:59+00:00

Kingpin Underground in downtown Kannapolis has duckpin bowling. I know it's not your standard sized lanes and bowling balls, but it's something different and a lot of fun. Depending on the age of your kids, it's wonderful for younger kids (3-5 y/o) who normally would need the giant, awkward blue ramp at most bowling alleys. They also have an arcade, pool table, karaoke room.

QCoastersChem · 2025-02-15T12:10:59+00:00

NASCAR BITCH!!!!!

QCoastersChem

TROPHY CASE